Walz Subpoenaed by House Panel Over COVID Relief Fraud Investigation

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, now the Democratic vice presidential nominee, is facing mounting scrutiny after being subpoenaed by a Republican-led House committee investigating the misuse of COVID relief funds. The House Education and the Workforce Committee is demanding documents from Walz related to a massive fraud scheme involving the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and federal child nutrition programs.

At the center of the investigation is the Minnesota-based nonprofit Feeding Our Future (FOF), which was implicated in a $250 million fraud that exploited funds intended to feed children during the pandemic. The Department of Justice (DOJ) called it the largest COVID fraud scheme in the country. Now, Republicans are pressing Walz for answers on how this scheme was allowed to flourish under his watch.

“As the chief executive and the highest ranking official in the state of Minnesota, you are responsible for the MDE and its administration of FCNPs [federal child nutrition programs],” wrote Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) in a cover letter to Walz, making it clear that the governor’s office bears ultimate responsibility for the oversight failures.

Foxx emphasized that public statements by Walz and his administration suggest they were aware of the situation but failed to take action. The committee has also subpoenaed MDE Commissioner Willie Jett, Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack, and Agriculture Department Inspector General Phyllis Fong, giving them until September 18 to respond.

This investigation comes at a politically sensitive time for Walz, who was tapped as Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate in the 2024 presidential election. While the GOP inquiry into Feeding Our Future began last year, it has intensified as Walz steps onto the national stage. His role in the scandal, or lack thereof, is now a critical issue that could impact the election.

In 2022, the DOJ charged dozens of defendants connected to FOF, with U.S. Attorney Andrew Lugar later announcing that 23 individuals had been convicted or held accountable for their roles in the scheme. The fraudulent operation exploited pandemic relief funds meant to feed hungry children, instead siphoning money into the pockets of criminals.

Governor Walz has tried to distance himself from the scandal. When asked why state agencies weren’t held accountable, Walz downplayed the issue, stating, “There’s not a single state employee that was implicated in doing anything that was illegal. They simply didn’t do as much due diligence as they should’ve.”

However, a report from Minnesota's Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) released this summer criticized the MDE for “inadequate” oversight of FOF, outlining how weak enforcement created opportunities for fraud. Walz’s administration claims they’ve made “corrective actions” based on the OLA’s recommendations, but that hasn’t stopped Republicans from digging deeper into his role.

As the 2024 election heats up, this investigation could be a major headache for the Biden-Harris ticket. With millions of dollars of taxpayer funds lost in fraud, Walz’s handling of the scandal is sure to remain in the spotlight as the GOP pushes for accountability.

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